Hollywood's Big Do-over

Arthur

Does the wild-eyed Russell Brand (who played the lascivious rocker in Forgetting Sarah Marshall) have the subtlety and charm to fill Dudley Moore's shoes as the boozy millionaire playboy in Arthur? A more pressing question is whether Hobson can be played by a woman. Meryl Streep is, allegedly, in talks to play the sardonic butler, a role which netted Sir John Gielgud his first (and only) Oscar. We find the whole thing confusing. But if anybody can pull it off, it's the actress who made Mamma Mia tolerable.

Status: In development

Escape From New York

Ya, we thought he was dead too. But Snake Plissken is coming back, though who exactly will play the legendary bad ass this time out is unclear. Gerard Butler was the first choice, but he bailed due to creative differences. Josh Brolin's name has been mentioned, too, though we'd be more interested in seeing a grizzled vet like Mickey Rourke or Viggo Mortensen take over. Or, better yet, Ian McShane. Just so long as it's not Vin Diesel.

Status: In development

The Karate Kid

Given the beloved status of the original, the risks for failure here are high. Evidence: Casting Jaden Smith (son of Will and Jada) against Jackie Chan as the would-be Miyagi—then setting the thing in Beijing. (Part of what made the original so appealing was the Jersey boy lost in SoCal storyline.) And, not to nitpick, but the young protégé now learns kung fu, not karate, which makes the title a tad deceptive. No word on whether the famed Crane Technique will be employed.

Status: In theaters June 11

A Nightmare on Elm Street

Frankly it's surprising this remake didn't happen sooner. Then again, reawakening Wes Craven's most iconic monster is not an undertaking to be approached lightly. But Freddy Krueger is back, played this time by Jackie Earle Haley (Kelly Leak in The Bad News Bears!). With the rise of torture porn in films like Saw and Hostel, can a revamped Krueger come off as anything but camp?

Status: In theaters April 30

Overboard

Jennifer Lopez is reportedly angling for the lead in a remake of this amnesiac fish out of water tale, a film most noteworthy for the chemistry between real-life couple Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. While we were never vested enough in the original to care if somebody wants to ruin this one, somebody should tell the producers that Ms. Hawn has a daughter. And that she's an actress, in the moving pictures, who looks just like Goldie did, thirty years ago. And we're pretty certain she'd be fantastic in wet cruise wear. Not that we watch movies for that kind of thing.

Status: In development

Piranha 3D

In response to the success of Jaws, schlock king Roger Corman made Piranha, unwittingly launching the career of John Sayles, who penned the satire. (Incidentally, Piranha 2, in 1981, marked the directorial debut of one James Cameron). This remake, shot in 3-D, will feature an ensemble cast that includes Elisabeth Shue, Ving Rhames, Christopher Lloyd (as some kind of mad piranha expert) and Richard Dreyfuss. The plot: It's spring break, and an underwater tremor causes the release of millions of pre-historic man-eating fish in the area's most popular lake. Don't go near the water (or the theaters). Again.

Status: In theaters August 27

Predators

After a sequel set in Los Angeles and two forgettable Aliens vs. Predator crossovers, this Robert Rodriguez-produced reboot (and possible origin story) will return the franchise to its gritty hunt-or-be-hunted in the jungle roots. Adrien Brody leads a cast of mercenaries that includes Laurence Fishburne and Topher Grace. One difference: This time they're sent to do battle on an alien planet. One similarity: The Predator is really hard to kill.

Status: In theaters July 7

Red Dawn

The original was the first film ever to be released with PG-13 rating. And, by the standards of 1984, a Russian attack of Reagan's America was pretty frightening. This time around it's the Chinese who invade our sacred soil. Propped up by a hearty dose of post-9/11 patriotism, a band of high school aged civilian soldiers once again answer the call to arms.

Status: In theaters November 24

True Grit

The Coen Brothers proved they have the directorial chops to tackle a Western a dozen times over with No Country For Old Men. As such, there's every reason to believe they'll do justice to this John Wayne classic, likely adding a layer of depth and minimalism to what was a pretty straight take the first time around. Add into the mix a cast that includes Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Barry Pepper and Josh Brolin (as a villain this time around) and we may get the great period Western we've been waiting for. It's been a long time in the saddle since Unforgiven.

Status: In theaters December 25

The Warriors

Tony Scott's retooling of Walter Hill's 1979 cult darling will be set in, of all places, present-day Los Angeles. The British director claims he wants to explore L.A.'s gang culture (we're pretty sure that's been done, Tony). What this means is that the remake won't have the fedora-wearing Boppers or the baseball bat-wielding Furies. Nor will it attempt to recreate the film's true star—Beame/Koch-era New York City on the brink of bankruptcy, tarnished by graffiti and a perilous subway system. Can you dig it?

Status: In development

Peter Hyman is the author of The Reluctant Metrosexual: Dispatches From An Almost Hip Life. Follow him on Twitter @peterhyman.

Hollywood's Big Do-over

Tampering with a near-classic film is tricky. For every rare gem like the remakes of Cape Fear or Dawn of the Dead there are dozens of Planet of the Apes. On the eve of a Nightmare on Elm Street reboot (in theaters later this month), GQ.com takes stock of ten do-overs heading your way.

Does the wild-eyed Russell Brand (who played the lascivious rocker in Forgetting Sarah Marshall) have the subtlety and charm to fill Dudley Moore's shoes as the boozy millionaire playboy in Arthur? A more pressing question is whether Hobson can be played by a woman. Meryl Streep is, allegedly, in talks to play the sardonic butler, a role which netted Sir John Gielgud his first (and only) Oscar. We find the whole thing confusing. But if anybody can pull it off, it's the actress who made Mamma Mia tolerable.